Last night when I went to bed, snow and sleet were coming down. Thankfully, during the night the temperatures warmed enough so that the precipitation changed over to rain and we have been spared another day covered in white. This morning it's still raining, but the temperatures have dropped again, so we have a thin layer of ice forming on the ground. Here we are just a few days away from the official beginning of spring (at least on the calendar) and we're experiencing another very cold wintry morning. And that has led me to a decision. Since I have nowhere to go today, and will be spending the entire day at home, I have decided to spend the day in my jammies!
Yet, having made that decision, I still need to get dressed. As do you. We need to clothe ourselves in the armour of God.
"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV, emphasis mine)
Exactly what is this armor with which we need to clothe ourselves? The passage goes on to tell us. We are to fasten on the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, and have the readiness given by the gospel of peace on our feet. We are to always take up the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation, and to take the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. That's what a well-dressed Christian is wearing today!
Today is St. Patrick's Day. As I have been thinking about Patrick, this man whose name is attached to this day, I wonder what he would think about the way we mark this day. And I have to believe that he would not be at all pleased that his name is associated with things like green beer and drunken revelry and pinching. You see, Patrick was a man who was properly dressed. He had his armor on. The reason we know about Patrick at all is because his feet were "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15 KJV). We know who Patrick is because he brought the gospel, the good news, of Christ to Ireland. Not because of leprechauns or wearing green or having a parade or drinking green beverages.
Patrick had his armor on. Do you? Have you gotten dressed today?
"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me." (Saint Patrick)
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